What Happened to Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr.?

Patrick Ewing's journey in basketball began in Kingston, Jamaica, before he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, at age 13. He quickly became a high school sensation and went on to play college basketball at Georgetown University under legendary coach John Thompson. During his four years at Georgetown, Ewing led the Hoyas to three NCAA Championship games, winning the national title in 1984, and was a three-time consensus First Team All-American.

In 1985, Ewing was the highly anticipated No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks. He spent 15 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Knicks, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, and steals. An 11-time NBA All-Star and the 1986 Rookie of the Year, Ewing led the Knicks to two NBA Finals appearances (1994 and 1999). He also earned two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. men's basketball teams in 1984 and the iconic 'Dream Team' in 1992. He retired in 2002 after brief stints with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. Ewing was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 for his individual career and again in 2010 as a member of the 'Dream Team'.

Following his playing career, Ewing transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for various NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2003-06), Orlando Magic (2007-12), and Charlotte Hornets (2013-17). In April 2017, he returned to his alma mater, Georgetown University, as the head men's basketball coach. His tenure at Georgetown saw a significant highlight in 2021 when he led the Hoyas to an unexpected Big East Tournament championship, securing an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2015. However, the team struggled in subsequent seasons, culminating in a 75-109 record over six years, and Ewing was fired in March 2023 after a combined 13-50 record in his final two seasons.

After his departure from Georgetown, Ewing rejoined the New York Knicks organization in October 2024 as a basketball ambassador. In this front office role, he was part of the team that celebrated an NBA Championship in June 2026, marking his first NBA title. Most recently, on July 4-5, 2026, Patrick Ewing agreed to join the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach under head coach Brian Keefe. This move brings him back to an NBA coaching staff, where his experience and legendary status are valued for player development and communication with veteran stars.